Arsenal: 4 reasons behind worrying Thomas Partey form

2. Thomas Partey Being Played Deeper Alongside Sambi

It’s two matches in a row now where Sambi Lokonga has been the standout midfielder. At Liverpool he had a tidy game in the first half before those infamous eight second half minutes, and against Newcastle it was he who ran the midfield with some lovely distribution either side.

Partey’s role, particularly against Newcastle, was limited. He was handed the bulk of the defensive duties and in this instance did them fairly well barring the occasional, and sloppy, hiccup.

With Sambi taking on more of an expansive role as he flexes his No. 8 style muscles, giving Partey less of the ‘glamorous’ roles might be part of a long-term strategy to mould the Belgian into a more rounded midfield player.

When the Ghanaian joined it was stated that Arteta’s desire to hand him more attacking freedom in the team was among the reasons behind him being convinced to sign. In his earlier months at the club fans got to see his majestic carrying ability on show, which he was allowed to perform more consistently when he had a Granit Xhaka or a Mohamed Elneny alongside him.

In possessing someone still young and new to the Premier League in Sambi, having the best No. 6 in the squad play as a more certified holding midfielder may be part of a tactical shift to get the best out of Sambi and add more stability centrally. In doing so, it’s natural that Partey’s form could be perceived as ‘dipping’ since he’s less involved in the aspects he might be associated with.

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